Record Cancer Delays Plague NHS

As of February 2026, nearly all NHS trusts are falling short of a key cancer treatment waiting time target. The standard requires 85% of patients to begin treatment within 62 days of referral, a benchmark not met nationally since 2014. In 2025, only three out of 119 trusts achieved this target, with some trusts seeing less than half of patients treated on time.

Significant delays are impacting patient care, with some individuals waiting over 100 days for treatment. This extended waiting period can lead to cancer progression, necessitating more aggressive or invasive treatments and increasing strain on services. The government's 10-year plan aims to rectify this by 2029, setting an interim target of 75% of patients treated within 62 days by March 2026.

Despite improvements in cancer survival rates and earlier diagnoses, the number of patients waiting longer for treatment has increased. The NHS reports record numbers of patients being seen and treated, with a high percentage receiving a diagnosis or all-clear within four weeks. However, the current analysis highlights unacceptably long waits for initial treatment, a situation the National Cancer Plan intends to resolve.